Individual surgical dressing kit



Aug. 28, 1951 P. coLLlGNoN 2,566,018

INDIVDUAL SURGICAL DRESSING KIT Original Filed Aug. l, 1947 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1951 P. COLLIGNON INDIVIDUAL `SURGICAL DRESSING KIT 2 SheetsSheet 2 original Filed Aug. 1, 1947 atentecl Aug. 28, v1195-1 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,566,018 INDIVIDUAL SURGICAL-.DRESSING KI-'r {Pier Collignon, Paris., France OriginalY application VAugust 1, 1947, Serial No.

765,549. Divided and thisapplication April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,919. In France September section 1, Public Law ssoQfAug-ust s, 1946 'Patent expires September 23, 1959 Another object of this invention is to provide such a convertible container which may be easily opened, and converted into and utilized as a splint by an injured .person Iwithout. assistance from other persons. y

A further object is to 'provide a container convertible into a splint which is especially suitable for emergency or rst-aid treatment of persons wounded or injured in road accidents, in camping accidents, or on theb'attleeld.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter. A

In order `to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which: y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the convertible container assembly;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section on line H- II of Fig. l; A v

Fig. 3 illustrates on an enlarged scale certain details of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line IV-IV of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the convertible container as a splint.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the convertible container is composed of two component elements 2l-22. These elements are each formed from sheet metal of suitable gauge and press-shaped 'to a channel-section conguration by bending at right angles `the two opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the bent corners being somewhat rounded. Each bent pla-te 2| and 22 is internally lined ywith a suitable thickness of absorbent material 23 such as thick felt or slightly compressed cotton wool.

The members 2l-22 are connected to each other by an intertted connection shown in detail in Fig. 3. The side edges of each sheet element are bent as at 24 so as to leave a duct or free space 25 and to form a complementary dovetailed assembly as at 26. This dove-tail assembly is formed with sufficient play to alloW the elements 2l and 22 to be easily separated in subsequent use in the direction indicated by the arrows 21 in Figs. 2 and 3. In adjacent ducts or free spaces 25 there is disposed a strong but I'lexible'zsteel wire'28 bent Ato a hairpin shape, as shown in Fig. 1. The wire 28 extends along the vertical edges and across the underside of the elements 2l and 22, and serves to provide the l actual connection therebetween.

With the two componentelements interconnected as just described, their top and bottom faces are sealed by a lid 29 and `abottom element 36. The lid 29 and bottom member 30 are provided on their rear sideswith a projecting plate Stand 32 respectively, secured thereto as with rivets.v or spot-welds.- The -top member 29 acts as the main support for the container and extends a greater distance over the elements than does the bottom -member 3D.

The projections 3| and 32 serve to secure' the assembled container to the users outer garment,

preferably in the precordial or chest region. A.

simple and practical way of securing the container to the outer garment isby the use of a pairI of clips or large safety-pins or the like, which.

perforate the material of the garment as at the points 33, 34 and 35, 36 respectively. Small shoulders 3l are provided 4on'ea'ch of the projections to retain the assembly in a firmly clamped relation to the users chest.

v The two component elements contain a pair of dressing wads 38 (Fig. 4) and also a strap of thick webbing 39 rolled up and attached to the inner felt lining as by adhesive means.

In use, when the injured person requires a dressing, he has merely to firmly grasp with one hand the elements 2|, 22 of Fig. 1, and raise them vertically so as to disengage them from the bottom member 30 while keeping them in engagement in the top member 29. The to-p member 29 will be moved together with its projection 3l in the same direction and the points 33 and 34 will serve as abutments. 'I'he elements are then moved .slightly forward away from the body and the lower wad of dressing will then freely drop out of the container.

The reversev of the above movement is then accomplished to close the container, and a spare dressing is, in this manner, maintained in reserve.

Should the injury be such as to require the use of both dressings, the interconnected elements 2| and 22, after having been disengaged from the bottom member 3D, are then pulled downwards, whereupon the elements are disengaged from the lid 29, the entire contents of the box becoming available.

Should the injury further require the use of a splint, this is provided by the elements 2| and 22.

aseaois When the elements 2l and 22 have been disengaged from the lid 29 and the bottom member 30. the two elements are separated by exerting the above-described pull in the direction of the arrows 2l (Figs. 2 and 3) They are then opened or flattened out, .bookwise, in a perpendicular plane with the head of the-hairpin wire 28 acting as the pivot, and the straight channel-shaped splint shown in Fig. 5 is obtained.

The splint thus produced is adjustable in length since, as shown in Fig. 6, each element 2l. 22 may be made to slide any desired distance over the straightened out wire 28.

A further advantage is the ability of the splint to be used in the case of an injury requiring immobilization of a joint, such as the elbow. For this purpose, the elements 2I-22 are first slid apart over the wire 28 a suitable distance. Then, in the event the elements are stili in their initial angular position, they are folded down, or conversely, if they are already in their straight condition shown in Fig. 6, they are raised by forming another bend in the wire 28. This causes the elements to assume any desired angle and renders them instantaneously adaptable to the particular emergency. When the splint is used in this manner, the web or sling 39 is used to support the splint which in turn supports the injured member.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A dressing-carrying container capable of being transformed into a splint comprising two channel-shaped side-forming members juxtaposed so that the ends of the flanges are in contact, said ends of said flanges being bent back upon themselves to form a longitudinal duct, two wires of hairpin formation inserted through said adjacent longitudinal ducts respectively and interconnecting the juxtaposed members, and bottom and top members fitted over the respective open ends of said interconnected side-forming members, said channel-shaped side-forming members being adapted, upon removal of said bottom and top members, to be separated and folded back to form a splint composed of the two channel-shaped members interconnected by the two wires.

A2. A dressing-carrying container capable of being transformed into a splint comprising two channel-shaped side-forming members juxtaposed so that the ends of the flanges are in contact, said ends of said flanges being bent back upon themselves to form a longitudinal duet, two wires of hairpin formation inserted through said adjacent longitudinal ducts respectively and interconnecting the juxtaposed members, said wires being slidable within said longitudinal ducts, and bottom and top members fitted over the respective open ends of said interconnected side-forming members, said channelshaped side-forming members being adapted. upon removal of said bottom and top members, to be separated and folded back to form a splint composed of the two slidable channel-shaped members interconnected by the two wires.

3. A dressing-carrying container capable of being transformed into a splint comprising two channel-shaped side-forming members juxtaposed so that the ends of the flanges are in contact, said ends of said flanges being bent back upon themselves to form a longitudinal duct, two wires of hairpin formation inserted through said adjacent longitudinal ducts respectively and interconnecting the juxtaposed members, said wires being slidable within said longitudinal ducts, bottom and top members fitted over the respective open ends of said interconnected side-forming members, and projecting securing plates attached to each of said bottom and top members for attachment to the users garment, said channel-shaped side-forming members being adapted, upon removal of said bottom and top members, to be separated and folded back to form a splint composed of the two slidable channel-shaped members interconnected by the two wires.

PIERRE COLLIGNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,434,566 Sharp Nov. 7, 1922 

